Folding machine



March 8 1927.

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Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrics.

WILLIAM WARD DAVIDSON, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T DAVIDSON MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

FOLDING MACHINE.

Application filed March 3, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for folding sheets of paper and the like.

Speaking generally, a primary object of the invention is to provide a machinefor folding sheets of paper and the like, adapted for imparting either parallel or right-angle folds to the sheets, by spaced sets of folding devices which normally operate in parallel.

H'eretofore, so far as I am aware, all folding machines comprising a plurality of folding devices, have operated in a predetermined, fixed sequence whereby, in folding a sheet on parallel lines to form two marginal flaps, the same flap will always be on the outside.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding machine of the general type specified, adapted for imparting a plurality of parallel folds to a sheet, so constructed and arranged that the machine may readily be adapted for effecting folding of the sheet to bring either marginal flap outside.

To attain the objects of the invention, a folding machine embodying my invention and improvements comprises spaced folding devices operating in parallel, conveying means for delivering sheets of paper to be folded from one set of folding devices to the other, and means intermediate said sets of folding devices for turning said sheets in the plane of the paper-preferably in a substantially horizontal plane-through a desired angle, said turning means comprising a rotatable member, specifically a ball, mounted in association with the conveying means in such relation that it will hold a piece of paper in contact with saidconveylng means,

and astud mounted on the machine'at a distance from said rotatable member, -which projects into the path of movement of a conveyed sheet passing from one set of folding devices to the other.

The invention also comprises the various other features, combinations of features and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, in which my invention is fully illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of sheet-turning means embodying my invention and improvements, shown as forming a separate Serial No. 91,945.

unit, adapted to be mounted in a folding Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 33 of Fig.

1; and

Fig. '4 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view of the stop stud mounted in association with the rotatable member by which turning of the sheet is effected.

Describing the invention with particular reference to the drawings, A, B, Fig. 2, designate, respectively, two sets of folding devices forming parts of a folding machine, the set A comprising rolls a, a, and a reciprocating blade a and the set B comprising rolls 6, b and a reciprocating blade 6 said folding devices operating in parallel and the set A being arranged at a somewhat higher level than the set B. I

An initial fold is adapted to be imparted to a sheetof paper by the folding devices A, and mounted intermediate the folding devices A and B, are conveying means adapted for .delivering the folded sheet from the folding devices A to the folding devices B, said conveyors comprising rotatable rolls adjusted to which are usual tapes, and to which rotation is adapted to be imparted by means of driving connection with any available source of power.

For reasons presently apparent, said couveyor comprises two sections, designated, respectively, as a whole, C, C. The section C comprises rolls 1, 1', adjusted to which are tapes 2 and the section C comprises rolls 3, 3', adjusted to which are tapes 4.

or reasons presently apparent, the rolls 3, 3 are mounted at a slight angle to the rolls 1, 1.

As shown, the'rolls 1, 1' are adapted to be rotated by a belt, not shown, adjusted to a pulley 5 on the shaft of the roll 1, adapted to connect said pulley with a driven pulley, not shown. and the rolls 3. 3' are driven from the roll 1 by means of a belt 6, adjusted to pulleys 7 and 8 secured to the shafts of said rolls 1 and 3, respectively.

Folded sheets are adapted to be delivered from the folding devices A to the tapes 2 by means of a curved plate a supported in proper position on the machine frame.

Associated with the conveyor section C, is turning means adapted for turning a sheet of paper delivered to the conveyor section C from the folding devices A, in the plane of the paper and preferably in a substantially horizontal plane, through an angle of degrees, in which position it will be delivered to the conveyor section C and thence to the folding devices B. I

In the preferable construction shown, said turning means comprises a rotatable memher 9, specifically a ball, mounted to turn freely in a suitable supporting cage 10, adapted tobe mounted upon the machine frame above one of the tapes 2, as shown the middle tape, the relation being such that said rotatable member will normally run in contact with said tape and to prevent sagging of the tape under weight of said rotatable member, a support is provided for said tape directly below said rotatable member. As shown, said support consists of a plate 11 formed on which is a shank 12 having a boss 13 at its lower end provided with a bor fitted to a rod 14 mountedin fixed position in the machine frame, said supporting plate being adjustably secured in position by a set-screw 15. The-rotatable member 9 will operate in an obvious manner, to hold a sheet of paper passing beneath it in contact with thetape 2 in association with which it is mounted, so that said sheet will move with the tape.

Mounted on the rod 14, at a distance from the rotatable member 9 and in such relation thereto that it will project into the ath of movement of a sheet of papertraversing the conveyor sectionC so as to engage said sheet, preferably adjacent to a lateral edge thereof, is a stud 16, said stud being adjustable on the rod 14 towards and from the rotatable member 9 to provide for varying its position relative to said rotatable member, within predetermined limits. As shown, said stud is secured to a sleeve portion 17 provided with a bore fitted to the rod 14, said sleeve portion being provided on one side with a boss 18 provided with a hole or opening 19 adapted to receive the lower end of the stud 16, and said stud being connected to the sleeve 17 and said sleeve in adjusted position on the rod 14 by means of a reduced projection 20 at the lower end of said stud which has screw-threaded engagement with a corresponding hole formed in the sleeve 17 at the bottom of the bore 19 therein and which extends through the wall of said sleeve into the bore therein, and the reduced screw-threaded portion 20 of said stud being longer than the hole in said sleeve. so that its lower end will impinge upon the rod 14,

said rod being preferably provided on its upper side with a flat surface 21 with which the lower end of the screw-threaded portion of said stud is adapted to engage, thus insuring desired vertical alinement of the stud 16. At its upper end, the stud 16 is provided with a head 22, the under-side of which is inwardly and downwardly inclined,

ing devices B to provide for folding either of two marginal flaps outside, as may be desired. Convenient provision for thus changing said stud from one side to the other of said rotatable member consists in employing duplicate sleeves 17 on the rod 14, one on each side of said rotatable member, in which the stud 16 is adapted to be interchangeably secured.

As shown, the cage 10 in which the rotatable member 9 is confined is supported on a bar 24 secured to the ends of which are clips 25 which are adapted to frictionally engage transverse bars 26 forming a part of the supporting frame of the turning unit.

Also, to provide for presenting the turned sheets to the folding devices B in proper alinement, jogging means preferably are provided in association with the conveyor section C at the delivery side of the turning means. As shown, said jogging means consists of a bar 27 supported on the frame of the turning unit so that its inner side will extend at right-angles to the line of fold of the folding devices B. Said jogging bar is supported on a bar 28 which extends lengthwise of the machine and is adapted to be attached to the transverse bars 26 of the frame of the turning unit by brackets 29 bent at their outer ends to form slots adaptedto hook over the bar'28, to which they are secured by a set-screw 30. As shown, the bar 28 is adapted to be connected to the transverse frame bars 26 by clips 31 which may be duplicates of the clips 25.

As previously explained, the conveyor rolls 3, 3', are set at a small angle to the rolls 1, 1, the relation being such that the tapes 4 will converge towards the face of the jogging bar 27 in the direction of travel of the conve or.

With the escribed construction, ,it is obvious that, as a sheet of paper, as the sheet indicated in dotted lines at 33, Fig. 1, leaves the turning means, it will be carried, due to the convergence of the tapes 4, towards the lit) -as s own,

sheets in t e plane of jogging bar 27 intocontact. with said bar so that its edge will aline therewith, as shown in dotted lines at 33., Fig. 1, thus insuring that it will be presented to the foldingdevices B in proper alinement. y a

In order to adapt a folder equipped with my improved turmng means, for doin paral el folding, it is merely necessary to etach the bar 24. which supports the rotatable member 9, and also the stud 16. The joger 27 preferably .will be retained, but will 1 e adjusted so-that it will present the sheets to the folding device B in proper position. However, my invention contemplates a construction in which the turning unit is made in the form of a separate unit, the operative parts thereof being all mounted and sup orted u o longitudinal frame members 34 which are ri 'dly connected at or adjacent to their ends y the transverse frame members'26.

Said unit is adapted to be removably mounted upon the main frame of the folder in any suitable manner, simple means for this purpose consisting of posts or standards 35 to the upper ends of which the side frame bars 34 are rigidly connected and the lower ends of which are adapted to be detachably secured to rigid parts of the main frame of thefolder in any suitable manner. Mechanics skilled in the art can readil effect such .mounting and it is not, there ore, deemed necessary or desirable to describe the same in detail therein.

I claim:

1; In a folding machine, the combination of spaced folding devices arranged in parallel, conveying means for delivering sheets of paper to be folded from one set of folding devices to the other, and means intermediate said sets of 'folding'devices mounted in association with said conveying means and rendered o rative thereby, for-turning said the paper through a desired an le. i p

'2. A fo ding machine asv specified in claim 1, in which the turning means is constructed and arranged to turn the sheetsof paper in a substantially horizontal planef 3. A folding machine as specified in claim 1, in which the folding devices consist of parallel pairs of folding rolls and associated reciprocable blades. i L y 4. A folding machine as specified in claim 1, in which the turnin means is constructed and arranged for turning the pa r in either direction about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the papem 5. A folding machine as specified inclaim .1, which also com rises means for alining the turned sheet 0 paper with the second folding device.

6. A folding machine as specified in claim 1, m which t e turning means comprises a n a suitable frame consisting,

Y a distance from said rotatable member which projects into the path of movement of the conveyed sheet. v

7 A folding machine as specified in claim 1, in which the turning means comprises a rotatable member in association with the conveying means, and supporting means there for, constructed and arranged to hold the sheet traversing said turning means in contact with said conveying means and to permit turning thereof, and a stud positioned at a distance from said rotatable member which projects'intoth'e path of movement of the conveyed sheet, and which also comprises jogging means at the delivery side of said turning means. a

8. A folding machine as specified in claim 1, in which the turning means comprises a rotatable member in association with the conveying means, and supporting means therefor, constructed and arranged to hold the sheet traversing said turning means in contact with said conveying means and to permit turning thereof, and a stud positioned at a distance from said rotatable member which projects into the path of movement of a fixed p ate for supporting the conveying means positioned beneath said rotatable member. I

9. A folding machine as specified in claim 1, in which the turning means comprises a rotatable member in association with the conveying means, and supporting means therefor, constructed and arranged to hold the sheet traversing said turning means in contact with said conveying means and to permit turning thereof, and a stud positioned at a distance from said rotatable member which projects into the path ofmovement of the conveyed sheet, .and which also comprises meansfor supporting said stud at either side of the rotatable member, to provide for turning said sheet in either direction.

10. A folding machine as specified in claim 1, in which the turning means comprises a rotatable member in association with the conveying means, and supportlng means therefor, constructed and arranged to hold the sheet traversing said turning means in contact with said conveying means, and to permit turning thereof, and a stud positioned ata distance from said rotatable member which projects into the path of movement of the conveyed sheet, said rotatable member and stud being in transverse alinement with each other.

11. A folding machine as specified in claim 1, in which the turning means comprises a and arranged to permit said ball to rotate in all directions.

12. A folding machine as specified in claim 1. in which the turning means consists of a rotatable member in association with the conveying means, and supporting means therefor, constructed and arranged to hold a conveyed sheet in contact with said con-v veying means and topermit turning thereof, and a pin positioned at a distance from said rotatable member which projects into the path of movement of the conveyed sheet, said rotatable member and pin being relatively adjustable.

13. A folding machine as specified in claim 1, in which the turning means consists of a rotatable member in association with the conveying means, and supporting means therefor, constructed and arranged to hold a conveyed sheet in contact with said conveying means and to permit turning thereof, and a pin positioned at a distance from said ma am rotatable member which projects into the path of movementof the conveyed sheet, both said rotatable member and stud being adjustable transversely.

14. A folding machine as specified in claim 1, in which the turning means comprises a rotatable member in association with the conveying means, and supporting means therefor, constructed and arranged to hold the sheet traversing said turning means in contact with said conveying means and to permit turning thereof, and a headed in positioned at a distance from said rotata le member which projects into the path of movement of a conveyed sheet.

15. A folding machine as specified in claim 1, in which the turning means comprises a rotatable member in association with the conand downwardly inclined.

In witness that l[ claim the foregoing as my invention, 1 affix my signature this 26th dayof February, 1926.

WILLIAM WARD DAVIDSON. 

